Means and method for storing aircraft

ABSTRACT

A means and method for storing aircraft comprising support frame means and lifting frame means or pallet means for supporting and storing an aircraft on said frame means. Said frame means is capable of accommodating one aircraft therein, as well as supporting another aircraft thereon in vertically spaced relationship to said one aircraft. A plurality of support frame means and pallet means may be provided for supporting a plurality of aircraft in spaced, stacked relationship.

[451 Sept. 3, 1974 United States Patent [19] Dean 3,025,985 3/1962Crawf0rd......... 3,348,710 10/1967 3,497,167

[ MEANS AND METHOD FOR STORING James 2/1970 Adams et AIRCRAFT [76]Inventor:

Charles W. Dean, 2942 Palm Ave., Fort Myers, Fla. 33903 Apr. 17, 1973Primary ExaminerRobert J. Spar I Assistant Examiner-Lawrence Oresky [22]Filed:

Attorney, Agent, or F irm-Shoemaker and Mattare 21 Appl. No.: 351,950

[57] ABSTRACT A means and method for storing aircraft comprising supportframemeans and lifting frame means or pallet means for supporting andstoring an aircra Related US. Application Data ft on said frame means.Said frame means is capable of accommodating one aircraft therein, aswell as supporting another aircraft thereon in vertically spacedrelationship to said one aircraft. A plurality of support frame meansand pallet means may be provided for supporting a plurality of aircraftin spaced, stacked relationship.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 11 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures 2,980,270 4/l96lElliott et al. 214/334 PATENTEDSEP 31914 3.333.138

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIG. is a side view of the support frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings,wherein like refer- This invention relates to a means and method for 5ence numerals refer to like parts throughout the several According tothe present invention, a support frame means is provided having supportbraces or portions thereon for supporting a lifting pallet. The liftingpallet includes means for guiding and supporting the wheels of anaircraft so that the aircraft may be positioned on the pallet and thepallet and aircraft lifted, as for example with a forklift or the like,and placed on top of the support frame means so that a plurality ofaircraft may be stored in vertically stacked relationship. Accordingly,at least twice as many aircraft may be stored with the present inventionas can be stored in the same space according to prior art methods.Further, the present invention enables the wings of adjacent aircraft tooverlap, thus enabling the aircraft to be placed closer together inside-by-side relationship.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION lifting pallet for handling aircraft, whereinmeans is provided for guiding and supporting the aircraft on the pallet,and said pallet has means so that it and an aircraft supported thereonmay be lifted by a lifting implement, such as a crane or forklift or thelike.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an end view of an aircrafthanger or the like showing a plurality of aircraft stored thereinaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the structure shown in FIG. 1 illustrating themanner in which a plurality of aircraft may be stored in side-by-siderelationship according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the lifting pallet of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the lifting pallet.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of the lifting pallet with an aircraftsupported thereon.

FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of the support frame of the presentinvention.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the support frame.

views, an aircraft hanger or'the like is indicated. generally at 1 inFIG. 1 and has a roof R and opposite side walls W. A plurality ofaircraft A are shown stored in the hanger 1 with some of the aircraftresting on pallets 10 supported on support frames '11.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of aircraft A may be supported onthe pallet and frames along the opposite sides of the hanger andadditional aircraft A may be stored in the space between the rows ofaircraft supported on the pallets and frames. A conventional forklift orthe like 12 may be used for lifting and transporting the pallets andaircraft supported thereon.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 through 7, details of construction of thepallets 10 are illustrated. Each pallet 10 comprises a pair of spacedapart I-beam side frame members 13 and 14 converging toward one anotherat one end thereof and disposed with their flanges extendinghorizontally. An inverted, channel-shaped end frame member 15 is weldedor otherwise suitably connected at its opposite ends to said side framemembers 13 and 14 at said one end thereof and is disposed on top of thebottom horizontally extending flange of said side frame members.

A similar, but larger, inverted channel-shaped end frame member 16 iswelded or otherwise suitably connected to the other ends of said sideframe members 13 and 14 and projects a slight distance outwardly beyondthe side frame members.

An intermediate, transverse channel-shaped frame member 17,substantially identical to frame member 15, is welded or otherwisesuitably connected at its opposite ends to said side frame members 13and 14 between the end. frame members 15 and 16 and spaced closer to onesaid end frame member 15 than the other said end frame member 16. Theintermediate frame member 17 is positioned against the bottom of the tophorizontally extending flange of said side frame members with thechannel opening upwardly and is spaced upwardly from the plane of saidend frame member 15. A longitudinally extending, channel-shaped wheelramp and support member 18 is welded or otherwise suitably connected atone end to the underside of said intermediate frame member 17 atsubstantially the middle of said intermediate frame member and extendsat its other end through cut-out portions 19 and 20 in the verticallyextending flanges of said end frame member 16. The wheel ramp andsupport member 18- includes a first portion 21 slightly downwardlyinclined toward said intermediate frame member 17 and a second portion22 at the other end thereof downwardly inclined toward the end framemember 16. The portion 22 extends outwardly and downwardly beyond endframe member.l6 to a point substantially in the plane of the bottom ofsaid side frame members 13 and 14, and below the plane of the end framemember 16.

Each of the side frame members 13 and 14 includes a downwardly slopingportion 23 and 24, respectively, extending from a point substantially inline with the juncture between portions 21 and 22 of wheel ramp andsupport member 18 and terminating substantially at the level of the topof the inside vertically extending flange of end frame member 16. Tworelatively wide wedge-shaped wheel ramps 25 and 26 are suitablyconnected as by bolts or welds or the like to the outer edge of endframe member 16 adjacent the opposite ends thereof and in substantialalignment with the side frame members 13 and 14. The wheel ramps 25 and26 have substantially the same slope as the portion 22 of wheel ramp andsupport member 18. v

A pair of vertically movable wheel pads 27 and 28 are mounted in thechannel of end frame member 16 adjacent the opposite ends thereof inline with wheel ramps 25 and 26. Each of the wheel pads comprises aninverted channel-shaped wheel supporting and engaging member 29 having aplurality of pins 30 and 31 connected thereto extending from theunderside thereof through aligned openings 32 and 33 in the bottom ofend frame member 16. The wheel pads are normally in the position shownin full line in FIG. 6 with the channel-shaped wheel supporting andengaging member 29 resting on the bottom of end frame member 16 and thepins projecting below the end frame member 16. When it is desired toremove an aircraft, the pallet is lowered onto a supporting surface, andin order to aid in removing the wheels of the aircraft from between thevertically extending flanges of end frame member 16, suitably means suchas blocks of wood 34 or the like may be positioned on the supportingsurface in alignment with the pins 30 and 31 so as to engage the pinsand raise the wheel pads to the position shown in dotted line in FIG. 6.This elevates the wheels to a position substantially in alignment withthe tops of the vertical flanges of end frame member 16.

Alternatively, the blocks 34 may be affixed directly to the pins 30 and31, if desired, but this renders the aircraft susceptible ofaccidentally moving off of the pallet since the pads would be elevatedanytime the pallet is resting on a supporting surface.

The pallet is primarily intended for use with aircraft having tricyclelanding gear, such as small helicopters and airplanes, and in use, anaircraft is moved onto the pallet with the front wheel thereof receivedin and guided by the wheel ramp and support member 18, and the backwheels thereof guided by the wheel ramps 25 and 26 into the spacebetween the vertical flanges of end frame member 16 onto the wheel pads27 and 28. The forks F of a forklift 12 are then extended over end framemember and under intermediate frame member 17 to lift the pallet and anaircraft supported thereon. The aircraft A may be suitably secured tothe pallet by means of cables, ropes, chains or the like 35 secured tothe front wheel of the aircraft and to the side frame members of thelifting pallet.

Referring now to FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, the support frame 11 for supportingthe pallet 10 and aircraft A is shown. Each support frame 11 comprises apair of vertically spaced, l-beam side frame members 36 and 37 at one.side of the frame, and a pair of substantially identical I-beam sideframe members 38 and 39 at the other side thereof. A verticallyextending l-beam column or support 40 is suitably connected as bywelding or the like at its opposite ends to the side frame members 36and 37, spaced inwardly from one end thereof approximately one-third thelength of the side frame members. An identical vertical I-beam column orsupport 41 is interconnected between the side frame members 38 and 39 atthe opposite side of the frame, spaced inwardly along the side framemembers approximately one-third the length thereof.

A pair of substantially identical,- oppositely extending inclined braces42 and 43 are suitably connected such as by welding or the like to theupper end of the vertical support 40 and the underside of the top sideframe member 36. A substantially identical pair of braces 44 and 45 aresuitably connected such as by welding or the like to the lower end ofthe vertical support 40 and the 7 top surface of bottom side framemember 37. Substantially identical braces 46, 47 and 48, 49 are suitablyconnected as by welding or the like to the upper and lower ends,respectively, of the other vertical support 41, and the top and bottomside frame members 38 and 39. A first transverse channel-shaped crossframe member 50 is suitably connected as by welding or the like at itsopposite ends to the top side frame members 36 and 38 adjacent one endthereof. The ends of the cross frame member 50 are received between thehorizontally extending flanges of the top side frame members, with theflanges of the cross frame member extending in flat abuttingrelationship with the flanges of the side frame members. A substantiallyidentical transverse channel-shaped cross frame member 51 is welded orotherwise suitably connected at its opposite ends to the bottom sideframe members 37 and 39 in vertical alignment with the first transversecross frame member 50. A third transverse channel-shaped cross framemember 52 is suitably connected as by welding or the like at itsopposite ends to the bottom side frame members 37' and 39 at a pointsubstantially in the plane of the vertical supports 40 and 41.

A pair of relatively large and strong transverse I- beam cross framemembers 53 and 54 are welded or otherwise suitably connected at theiropposite ends to the top side frame members 36 and 38. The cross framemember 54 is connected to the side frame members 36 and 38 adjacent theends thereof opposite the first transverse cross frame member 50 and thecross frame member 53 is connected with the top side frame members 36and 38 spaced inwardly from the ends thereof in substantial alignmentwith the outer end of the braces 43 and 47.

A pair of relatively small, cylindrical, vertically extending supports55 and 56 are connected at their opposite ends with the adjacent ends ofthe pair of side frame members 36 and 37 and 38 and 39, respectively, torigidify the structure and maintain the side frame members in parallelrelationship.

In use, the support frames 11 are placed in spaced relationship alongopposite sides of a hanger or the like as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 and aforklift or the like is then used to lift a pallet 10 and aircraft A aspreviously explained. The pallet and aircraft are thenplaced on thesupport frame 11 with the pallet resting on the cross frame members 53and 54. A second aircraft may be stored under the first aircraft andinside the support frame 1 1., Positioning of the vertical supports 40and 41 closer to one end of the side frame members than the otherenables the aircraft to be moved farther into the frame withoutinterference between the wings of the aircraft and the vertical supports40 and 41. The lateral spacing between the vertical supports 40 and 41and 55 and 56 is such as to enable the tail section of the aircraft toproject therethrough as seen in FIG. 1.

By selecting various designs of aircraft, i.e., high wing aircraft andlow wing aircraft, for storage on adjacent support frames, the aircraftmay be positioned more closely to one another with the wings extendingin overlapping relationship to one another. By means of the presentinvention, wherein the aircraft are stored in vertically stackedrelationship, at least twice as many aircraft may accordingly be storedin a given amount of hanger space as is possible with conventionalstorage structures. The support frames and pallets according to thepresent invention have sufficient size and strength to safely store mostsingle engine aircraft having tricycle landing gear, and the uniquepallet construction affords a simple and efficient way of handlingaircraft for transporting them from one place to another and for placingthem on and taking them from the support frames. Additionally,helicopters may be readily handled and stored with the presentinvention; and by enlarging the size of the pallets and support frames,larger aircraft can be handled and stored in accordance with theinvention.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the presentembodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, since thescope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than bythe description preceding them, and all changes that fall within themetes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as well asconjointly cooperative equivalents, are therefore intended to beembraced by those claims.

I claim:

1. A pallet for handling and storing aircraft, comprising a pair ofelongate, rigid, spaced apart side frame members, a pair of elongate,rigid, spaced apart end frame members connected at their opposite endsto opposite ends of said side frame members, one of said end framemembers having wheel engaging and supporting means for supporting thewheels of an aircraft thereon,

, ing toward one another at one end thereof, a first transa transverseframe member connected at its opposite ends to said side frame membersadjacent the other end frame member and vertically and horizontallyspaced relative to said other end frame member so that the forks of aforklift can extend between said transverse frame member and said otherend frame member substantially perpendicular thereto and between theside frame members to lift said pallet and an aircraft supportedthereon, and an elongate, inverted channel shaped wheel ramp and supportintermediate the side frame members and connected thereto and extendingfrom one end thereof beyond said one end frame member toward andadjacent the other end frame member for engaging and supporting a wheelof an aircraft thereon.

2. A pallet for handling and storing aircraft, comprising a pair ofspaced apart side frame members converging toward one another at one endthereof, a first transverse frame member connected at its opposite endswith said one end of said side frame members, a second transverse framemember connected at its opposite ends with said side frame membersspaced axially inwardly from said one end thereof and in verticallyspaced relationship to said first transverse frame mem ber such as toaccommodate and receive the forks of a forklift therebetweensubstantially perpendicularly to the axes thereof to lift said palletand an aircraft supported thereon, a third transverse frame memberconnected adjacent its opposite ends with the other end of said sideframe members, and an upwardly open, channel shaped wheel ramp andsupport means extending longitudinally between said side frame membersto reverse frame member connected at its opposite ends with said one endof said side frame members, a second transverse frame member connectedat its opposite ends with said side frame members spaced axiallyinwardly from said one end thereof and in vertically spaced relationshipto said first transverse frame member, a third, upwardly open, channelshaped transverse frame member connected adjacent its opposite ends withthe other end of said side frame members, wheel ramps connected withsaid third transverse frame member on the side thereof opposite saidside frame members and in substantial alignment with said side framemembers for guiding the wheels of an aircraft onto said toward the otherend of the pallet, and said transverse frame member is spaced axiallyinwardly and upwardly from said other end frame member to accommodatethe forks of a forklift horizontally therebetween.

5. A pallet as in claim 1, wherein said one end frame member and saidtransverse frame member each have an inverted, channel shapedconfiguration, said transverse frame member adapted to receive a frontwheel of an aircraft having a tricycle type landing gear and said oneend frame member adapted to receive the rear wheels of said aircraft.

6. A pallet as in claim 1, wherein said transverse frame member isadapted to receive and support a wheel of an aircraft supported on thepallet and to be engaged by the forks of a forklift to lift the pallet.

7. A pallet as in claim 1, wherein said one end frame member has aninverted channel shape, inclined wheel ramps connected to said one endframe member adjacent the opposite ends thereof, and wheel pads movablymounted in the channel of said one end frame member in alignment withsaid wheel ramps and said side frame members for supporting the wheelsof an aircraft positioned on said pallet in a lowered position in saidchannel to prevent accidental movement of the aircraft, said wheel padsincluding means for raising the wheel pads to elevate the wheels of anaircraft out of said channel so that the aircraft may be readily movedfrom said pallet.

8. A pallet as in claim 7, wherein said wheel pads are flat rectangularmembers, pin means connected at one end with said wheel pads andslidably received through aligned holes in said one end frame member,and means for engaging said pin means and raising said pin means andwheel pads to an elevated position to lift the wheel of an aircraft outof the channel of said one end frame member.

'9. A pallet as in claim 8, wherein said means for engaging said pinmeans comprises at least one separate member positionable upon asupporting surface in alignment with said pin means for engaging saidpin means when the pallet is lowered onto said supporting surface.

10. A pallet as in claim 1, wherein said channel shaped wheel ramp andsupport extends from its said one end upwardly over said one end framemember and then downwardly to its other end beneath said transverseframe member and connected at its other end to said transverse framemember.

11. A pallet as in claim 1, wherein said side frame aircraft therein.

1. A pallet for handling and storing aircraft, comprising a pair ofelongate, rigid, spaced apart side frame members, a pair of elongate,rigid, spaced apart end frame members connected at their opposite endsto opposite ends of said side frame members, one of said end framemembers having wheel engaging and supporting means for supporting thewheels of an aircraft thereon, a transverse frame member connected atits opposite ends to said side frame members adjacent the other endframe member and vertically and horizontally spaced relative to saidother end frame member so that the forks of a forklift can extendbetween said transverse frame member and said other end frame membersubstantially perpendicular thereto and between the side frame membersto lift said pallet and an aircraft supported thereon, and an elongate,inverted channel shaped wheel ramp and support intermediate the sideframe members and connected thereto and extending from one end thereofbeyond said one end frame member toward and adjacent the other end framemember for engaging and supporting a wheel of an aircraft thereon.
 2. Apallet for handling and storing aircraft, comprising a pair of spacedapart side frame members converging toward one another at one endthereof, a first transverse frame member connected at its opposite endswith said one end of said side frame members, a second transverse framemember connected at its opposite ends with said side frame membersspaced axially inwardly from said one end thereof and in verticallyspaced relationship to said first transverse frame member such as toaccommodate and receive the forks of a forklift therebetweensubstantially perpendicularly to the axes thereof to lift said palletand an aircraft supported thereon, a third transverse frame memberconnected adjacent its opposite ends with the other end of said sideframe members, and an upwardly open, channel shaped wheel ramp andsupport means extending longitudinally between said side frame membersto receive the wheel of an aircraft and connected at one end thereofbetween the ends of said second transverse frame member and connectedadjacent the other end thereof with said third transverse frame memberbetween the ends thereof.
 3. A pallet for handling and storing aircraft,comprising a pair of spaced apart side frame members converging towardone another at one end thereof, a first transverse frame memberconnected at its opposite ends with said one end of said side framemembers, a second transverse frame member connected at its opposite endswith said side frame members spaced axially inwardly from said one endthereof and in vertically spaced relationship to said first transverseframe member, a third, upwardly open, channel shaped transverse framemember connected adjacent its opposite ends with the other end of saidside frame members, wheel ramps connected with said third transverseframe member on the side thereof opposite said side frame members and insubstantial alignment with said side frame members for guiding thewheels of an aircraft onto said third transverse frame member, and anupwardly open, channel shaped wheel ramp and support means extendinglongitudinally between said side frame members to receive the wheels ofan aircraft and connected at one end thereof between the ends of saidsecond transverse frame member and connected adjacent the other endthereof with said third transverse frame member between the endsthereof.
 4. A pallet as in claim 1, wherein the side frame membersconverge toward one another from said one end toward the other end ofthe pallet, and said transverse frame member is spaced axially inwardlyand upwardly from said other end frame member to accommodate the forksof a forklift horizontally therebetween.
 5. A pallet as in claim 1,wherein said one end frame member and said transverse frame member eachhave an inverted, channel shaped configuration, said transverse framemember adapted to reCeive a front wheel of an aircraft having a tricycletype landing gear and said one end frame member adapted to receive therear wheels of said aircraft.
 6. A pallet as in claim 1, wherein saidtransverse frame member is adapted to receive and support a wheel of anaircraft supported on the pallet and to be engaged by the forks of aforklift to lift the pallet.
 7. A pallet as in claim 1, wherein said oneend frame member has an inverted channel shape, inclined wheel rampsconnected to said one end frame member adjacent the opposite endsthereof, and wheel pads movably mounted in the channel of said one endframe member in alignment with said wheel ramps and said side framemembers for supporting the wheels of an aircraft positioned on saidpallet in a lowered position in said channel to prevent accidentalmovement of the aircraft, said wheel pads including means for raisingthe wheel pads to elevate the wheels of an aircraft out of said channelso that the aircraft may be readily moved from said pallet.
 8. A palletas in claim 7, wherein said wheel pads are flat rectangular members, pinmeans connected at one end with said wheel pads and slidably receivedthrough aligned holes in said one end frame member, and means forengaging said pin means and raising said pin means and wheel pads to anelevated position to lift the wheel of an aircraft out of the channel ofsaid one end frame member.
 9. A pallet as in claim 8, wherein said meansfor engaging said pin means comprises at least one separate memberpositionable upon a supporting surface in alignment with said pin meansfor engaging said pin means when the pallet is lowered onto saidsupporting surface.
 10. A pallet as in claim 1, wherein said channelshaped wheel ramp and support extends from its said one end upwardlyover said one end frame member and then downwardly to its other endbeneath said transverse frame member and connected at its other end tosaid transverse frame member.
 11. A pallet as in claim 1, wherein saidside frame members comprise I-beams and converge toward one another atsaid other ends thereof, said I-beam side frame members including upperand lower horizontally extending flanges and a vertically extending web,said transverse frame member comprising an inverted channel fixed at itsopposite ends to said side frame members at the upper horizontallyextending flanges of the side frame members, said channel shaped wheelramp and support fixed at its other end to said transverse frame member,and said one end frame member having an inverted channel shape toreceive the wheels of an aircraft therein.